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might mean.
    Well, he had thought of one other thing in that time—the perplexing realization that, while he’d always thought of Georgie as a younger sister in the past, he currently had no desire to think of her as such.
    At present, he didn’t know what the appropriate term for their relationship ought to be, but he had a sneaking suspicion that they’d moved into unfamiliar territory and might never be able to go back to how things were before.
    Cedric didn’t know how he felt about all of that. He did know that the warbling coming from the stage was a blessed distraction from such thoughts, however.
    Just as the soprano blistered his ears with a note that could shatter glass, Georgie leaned forward excitedly in her seat. Christ, could she possibly be enjoying herself? He studied her from behind and to the side, trying to sort out the expression on her face. Sure enough, it was one of glee.
    He’d never thought Georgie was fond of torture—or at least not self-torture. She’d always been rather fond of torturing him and Bridge, and even Cedric’s younger brother Joshua on occasion, but never herself.
    Yet there she sat, sheer and utter exuberance showing as plain as day on her face, much like the expression she’d worn at luncheon earlier.
    It was enough to cause Cedric a headache. Best not to think about it, since he already had a headache from the wretched operatic voices greeting his ears with unabashed abandon.
    He sat back in his seat and allowed his gaze to wander over the crowd, in the hopes that that activity might provide him enough distraction that he could ignore the near-feline-in-heat sort of screeching occurring down on the stage. Occasionally, he’d catch the attention of another gentleman in his box, and they’d nod at each other before going back to scanning the crush.
    After a few minutes of his perusal, however, Cedric would have fallen out of the box completely were he not seated properly.
    What on earth was Joshua doing at the opera, seated in a box across the way with Lord Harrison Casemore and a few of his usual compatriots? For that matter, what was Joshua doing in Town at all?
    When Cedric had left Yorkshire for the London Season, Joshua had claimed boredom with the scene to be found here, and had begged off accompanying him to Town. Thinking that his younger brother simply wanted to sow a few more wild oats without his responsible, elder brother watching over him constantly, Cedric had readily agreed. But if that was the case, what could have brought Joshua all the way here, and why wouldn’t he have let Cedric know of his arrival?
    He wouldn’t have to wait long to find out. Blessedly, the final strains which would lead to the intermission sounded from the orchestra pit. Cedric waited somewhat impatiently for all of the ladies in his box to rise. Lady Stalbridge, the last of the group to do so, finally turned and faced him. He needed to speak with her before he left them…he had to be certain someone would keep an eye on Georgie, lest the girl run off and somehow find Haworth. Granted, he’d only be gone a few minutes, but still. Why take a chance?
    “ I do hope you’ll excuse me for a few moments, ma’am,” he said in a rush. “I just saw my brother with Lord Harrison and was hoping to have a word with him.”
    She started to nod her consent, but Georgie interrupted before she could say anything. “Loring is with Lord Harrison? Lord Harrison Casemore?”
    Her eyes lit up and she leaned towards him, grabbing onto his arm briefly before seemingly coming to her senses and releasing him. The brief contact sent the same jolts of excitement through his entire body as he’d experienced only two evenings ago. He stood there, stunned and unable to form a coherent thought.
    How could Georgie have such an effect on him?
    “ Might I come with you, Monty?” she nearly begged, a desperate look in her warm brown eyes.
    That left him even more dazed than he already had been. Georgie and